A new report claims Google is readying Android-based smart glasses with a heads-up display for release later this year.

The New York Times cited on Tuesday Google employees familiar with the project as saying that the glasses will cost "around the price of current smartphones," which report author Nick Bilton took to mean between $250-600.

Sources said the eyewear would include a small screen intended to sit just a few inches from the user's eyes. The device will reportedly sport a cellular data connection and a range of sensors including motion and GPS.

The report went on to note that a low-resolution built-in camera would provide an augmented reality view of the world by overlaying information. Privacy, however, is believed to be a concern for Google, as the company is looking to provide a way for others to know if they are being recorded by a user wearing the glasses.

Insiders indicated that the glasses would not be designed for constant use, though some power users would likely choose to wear them a lot.

The project is said to have arisen out of Google's futuristic X lab. The Times reported last year that the Mountain View, Calif., company operated a secret research facility for highly speculative projects. Google Latitude creator Steve Lee is rumored to be one of the major players in the smart glasses project, as well as company co-founder Sergey Brin. A report from the San Jose Mercury News last week claimed Google is outfitting a lab for a mysterious "Project X" that involves "precision optical technology."

The glasses are expected to tap into Google's software products, such as Latitude, Goggles and Maps, to create a unique experience. “You will be able to check in to locations with your friends through the glasses,” tipsters said.

Rather than implementing a new business model for the project, Google is said to be approaching the glasses as an open experiment. If consumers like the device, then the company would investigate money-making options.

A separate report from the Times late last year claimed Apple is also working on wearable devices. For instance, one prototype developed by the company is said to be a "curved-glass iPod that would wrap around the wrist." Users would control the device via voice command, similar to the Siri functionality on the iPhone 4S. However, only a very small number of employees are believed to be at work on wearable electronics projects at Apple.

Apple's iPod lineup has been "wearable" for years, as the company has designed its smaller iPods with clips used to attach the devices to clothing. The current generation of iPod nano also features several clock face options so that the device can be coupled with third-party wristband cases to serve as a watch.

Rather than implementing a new business model for the project, Google is said to be approaching the glasses as an open experiment. If consumers like the device, then the company would investigate money-making options.

So, they don't really know if it is cool enough to spark consumer interests so they will just throw it out there. It seems they haven't copied everything about Apple. Well, maybe Apple TV, but I think Apple was wrongly certain Apple TV would be a huge hit when they first released it.

Google glasses sound like something Steve Jobs would kick back to the lab. Another geek toy.

So, they don't really know if it is cool enough to spark consumer interests so they will just throw it out there. It seems they haven't copied everything about Apple. Well, maybe Apple TV, but I think Apple was wrongly certain Apple TV would be a huge hit when they first released it.

Google glasses sound like something Steve Jobs would kick back to the lab. Another geek toy.

The point isn't to get something ground breaking or useful on the market, the point is to get some basic concept in the air so that when Apple shows them how to do it correctly they can just follow suit and then say that it was either obvious all along or that they started it first.

This bot has been removed from circulation due to a malfunctioning morality chip.

Yes... It's been 'noted' several times that Apple TV is regarded by Apple as little more than a 'hobby', though part of that claim is likely driven by the marginal sales of the first iteration of the system.

I think Apple was wrongly certain Apple TV would be a huge hit when they first released it.

The real reason Apple released the Apple TV when they did was not because they believed they had a blockbuster product on their hands, rather it was to make it harder for competitors to gain a critical mass. Releasing it when they did bought Apple time to get the business model worked out.

Most of us naturally already have built in, super hi-res resolution in our eyes.

So, somebody is going to buy some expensive glasses to put on their head and view the world through a lo-res camera? And yes, I do admit that I am extremely suspicious as to what will be shown in that augmented reality world and what the purpose of it will be. Android? Google? Great, now I will be bombarded by ads to my left and ads to my right. Malware will never be further away than 2 fucking inches from my face.

Aside from my initial reservations about this product, I will reserve final judgement until I actually see what this thing looks like and what it can do.

Yes... It's been 'noted' several times that Apple TV is regarded by Apple as little more than a 'hobby', though part of that claim is likely driven by the marginal sales of the first iteration of the system.

So, Android tablets are Google's hobby?

Steve Job's vision was so forward thinking that he used to park in disabled spots before he became sick.

Most of us naturally already have built in, super hi-res resolution in our eyes.

So, somebody is going to buy some expensive glasses to put on their head and view the world through a lo-res camera? And yes, I do admit that I am extremely suspicious as to what will be shown in that augmented reality world and what the purpose of it will be. Android? Google? Great, now I will be bombarded by ads to my left and ads to my right. Malware will never be further away than 2 fucking inches from my face.

Aside from my initial reservations about this product, I will reserve final judgement until I actually see what this thing looks like and what it can do.

Snow Crash inches towards reality...

Steve Job's vision was so forward thinking that he used to park in disabled spots before he became sick.

With the acquisition of MMI, Google will effectively be producing a variety of Android devices. It may require "piercing the corporate veil" to get at Google, but for Apple's lawyers, that will be just a minor speed bump.

I have no idea why he's putting a forward slash at the front of his markup or why he's still including that markup at all but that used to be his gimmick to get attention when he first started posting here. Everything he wrote was centered just to annoy everyone.

They finally removed the option from vBulletin which spoiled it for the rest of us who were using it appropriately.

When he got called out on it he said he needed it for reading despite the fact that he was reading everyone else's posts just fine and he's still milling about derailing the conversation.

This bot has been removed from circulation due to a malfunctioning morality chip.

I have no idea why he's putting a forward slash at the front of his markup or why he's still including that markup at all but that used to be his gimmick to get attention when he first started posting here. Everything he wrote was centered just to annoy everyone.

They finally removed the option from vBulletin which spoiled it for the rest of us who were using it appropriately.

When he got called out on it he said he needed it for reading despite the fact that he was reading everyone else's posts just fine and he's still milling about derailing the conversation.

Ah!

Very interesting!

By the way, love your signature.

I saw him get mistaken just the other day, poor bugger!

Spread the word.

Steve Job's vision was so forward thinking that he used to park in disabled spots before he became sick.

I could see the arguments between DaHarder and Solipsism getting ugly quickly. Though I apologize for getting off topic. Though I'm not the only one.

No Worries... He's not even worth the effort, and I never allow things to get too out-of-hand, especially as I don't use profanity nor do I resort to personal insults, both of which are staples of his posts.

No Worries... He's not even worth the effort, and I never allow things to get too out-of-hand, especially as I don't use profanity nor do I resort to personal insults, both of which are staples of his posts.[/QUOTE]

That's good, but I wonder what your true intentions are on being on a site that's Apple related when you yourself don't seem like a fan. Neither the products nor the company itself are really likeable by you. Are you here just to bring a balanced conversation or be as many would call an 'Apple hater'?
I myself like reading the posts and reading what people have to say and would probably respond in like, (though sometimes someone else may already put up what I would want to ask or say to begin with). Again apologizes for going off topic, but it is after all a logical reasonable question.

He keeps trolling and FUDding around and really makes it easy to bash his arguments so I enjoy proving him wrong at every turn. But I do see your point and I'm not helping by making him post more crap than usual so I will refrain... for the rest of the night.

This bot has been removed from circulation due to a malfunctioning morality chip.